Heights had high hopes

Editor’s Note: The WIAA recently canceled spring sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Star-News, we’ve been giving recognition to the athletes and coaches who had their seasons stopped prematurely with a series of stories on the teams that didn’t get a chance to perform in 2020.   Their numbers were up. And so were the expectations. Wisconsin Heights’ track and field teams had an increase of roughly 20 athletes this season. And the Vanguards’ fully expected to take a major jump in the Capitol Conference. Of course, we’ll never know as spring sports were canceled in late April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had our largest team I’ve ever coached,” Heights coach Sara Boutelle said. “We had crew full of talent ready to try new events that would have increased our point total at every meet.  “The guys team definitely would have been fighting for a team conference title, and we would have most likely taken a few athletes to state in June.” On the boys’ side, senior Christian Patzka was poised for a huge finish to his brilliant Vanguards’ career. In 2019, Patzka finished second in the 3,200-meter run at Veterans Stadium in La Crosse. East Troy standout Henry Chapman, who won the 3,200, was a senior last year meaning Patzka would have been the top returnee this spring. Patzka would have also ranked among the favorites in the 1,600-meter run. “Christian would have been the Capitol South Conference athlete of the year, he would have won state in the 3200-meter run, and he would have placed very high in the 1600-meter at state,” Boutelle boldly predicted. Senior Zach Bauman would have been one of the top performers in the 1,600 and helped anchor the 3,200-meter relay. Sophomore Matthew Russell, who had a sensational freshman year in the shot put and discus, was poised for a big season. Senior thrower Christian Turner also had an amazing streak of setting a personal-best in every meet last year.   “We were anxious to see if he could continue his streak this year,” Heights throws coach Doug Presny said of Turner. On the girls’ side, freshman Samantha Herrling was coming off a terrific cross country season where she finished second at state. Boutelle was excited to see just where Herrling’s best events might be. “Samantha was looking to place at state in the 800, 1600, and/or 3200,” Boutelle said. “This was going to be her freshman debut and we were going to figure out which distance event worked best with her fiery spirit and running style.” Sophomore Kylee Doherty and senior Brooke Presny were both also hoping to break the school discus record.